F
HH3); Childbirth (f; JFM); Cluster Headache (1; HAD); Cold (f; CRC; FAD); Colic (f; CRC; GMH;
TRA); Constipation (f; CRC); Cough (f; GMH); Cramp (1; APA; FAD; PH2; TRA; WAM); Depression
(f; GMH); Dermatosis (f; PED); Diarrhea (f; CRC; JFM); Dizziness (f; AKT); Dysmenorrhea (f; FAD;
PHR; PNC); Dyspepsia (f; CRC; GMH; PHR; PH2); Dyspnea (f; GMH); Earache (f; CRC; GMH;
JFM); Escherichia (f; HH3); Fever (f; APA; CRC; PNC); Fungus (1; HH3); Gas (f; CRC; GMH; JFM);
Gastrosis (f; TRA); Headache (1; APA; SKY; WAM); Heart (f; JFM); Hysteria (f; CRC; GMH; JFM);
Infection (1; HH3); Inflammation (1; AKT; CAN; COX; FNF; PHR; PH2; WAM); Insomnia (f; FAD;
JFM); Lochia (f; PH2); Menstruation (f; CRC); Migraine (3; APA; FAD; PH2; TRA; WAM); Mor-
phinism (f; APA); Mycosis (1; HH3); Nausea (f; APA); Nervousness (f; FAD; JFM; PHR; PH2);
Neurosis (f; APA); Pain (1; APA; GMH; PNC; TRA; WAM); Parasite (f; PHR; PH2); Parturition (f;
CRC); Puerperium (f; PHR); Rheumatism (f; CAN; DEM; PHR; PH2; PNC); Salmonella (1; HH3;
TRA); Spasm (f; CRC); Staphylococcus (1; HH3; TRA); Stomachache (1; CAN); Swelling (f; CRC;
DEM); Toothache (f; CAN); Tinnitus (f; CAN); Tumor (1; TRA); Vertigo (f; AKT; CAN); Vomiting
(1; AKT); Worm (f; CRC; FAD; PNC); Wound (f; PHR; PH2); Yeast (1; HH3).
Dosages (Feverfew) — 600 μg parthenolide 1–3 ×/day (AKT); 250 μg parthenolide (APA); 2–3
leaves chewed daily with or without food (APA; CAN); 50 mg freeze-dried leaf daily with or
without food (CAN); 0.25–0.5 tsp fresh leaf (PED); 0.2–0.4 g dry leaf (PED); 0.3 g dry leaf:2 ml
alcohol/1 ml water (PED); 4–8 ml liquid leaf extract (APA; PNC); 50–200 mg dried shoots daily
(CAN); 2 (380 mg) capsules 3 ×/day (NH). DANGEROUS ERROR ->250 mg parthenolide/day
[should have said 250 μg] (SKY).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Feverfew) — Class 2b (AHP). Oral feverfew
may cause mouth ulcers in ca. 10% of patients. Should not be taken by pregnant women because
the leaves have emmenagogue activity (LRNP, June 1990). No serious side effects have been noticed
in those taking feverfew over years as a preventive. Side effects: ulcerations of the mouth, sore
tongue, inflammation of the oral mucosa and tongue, swelling of the lips, unpleasant taste, loss of
taste, urinary problems, headache, diarrhea, dry mouth, dusgeusia, gas, glossosis, hypersensitivity,
nausea, stomatosis, and vomiting (most were apparent only in the first week) reported by those
using feverfew. Cases of allergic contact dermatosis in humans have also been reported (AEH).
Cases of contact dermatosis are rare. Mild tranquilizing and sedative effects have been reported.
Chewing the leaves for extended periods may lead to abdominal pains and dyspepsia. Sesquiterpene
lactones (SLs) are aromatic compounds widely distributed in certain plant families, with highest
concentrations generally found in leaves and flowers. Sheep and cattle poisonings due to SL-
containing species have been reported. SLs are allergenic and may cause dermatosis (CAN).
Because it is reputed to be abortifacient and to affect the menstrual cycle, its use in pregnancy and
lactation is to be avoided. “Self-medication with feverfew should not be undertaken without first
consulting a doctor” (CAN). “Should not be used by children under the age of two years” (SKY).
Do not use with calcium channel blockers, ticlopadine, or coumadin (O’Brien, 1998).
Extracts (Feverfew) — Inhibit leukotriene, prostaglandin, and thromboxane production; inhibit
phospholipase A2 (facilitating the release of arachidonic acid from the phospholipid cellular mem-
brane; clinical relevance questionable) (CAN). Extracts inhibit interaction of platelets with collagen
substrates. Inhibits granule secretion in blood platelets and neutrophils (associated with etiology
of migraine and rheumatoid arthrosis, respectively). SLs with an alpha-methylene butyrolactone
unit may explain antisecretory activity (CAN). Extracts produce a dose-dependent inhibition of
anti-IgE-induced histamine release from mast cells (differently than cromoglycate and quercetin)
(CAN). Contains several COX-2 inhibitors, but one of best sources of parthenolide (COX).
FIELD SCABIOUS (Knautia arvensis (L.) Coult.) ++Synonyms — Scabiosa arvensis L., Trichera arvensis Schrader.